David Davies to leave Edinburgh Rugby

[Hil]

http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/15/05/09/david-davies-step-down-edinburgh-rugby-role

Edinburgh Rugby has today (9 May) announced its managing director David Davies will step down at the end of May.

David joined Edinburgh Rugby in April 2013.

David said: “I would like to thank the staff and fans at Edinburgh Rugby for their support over the past two years.

“The playing and coaching staff have made real progress over that period and I wish them all the best for the future.

“I am proud to have led Edinburgh, however recent media speculation about my role has been unhelpful as I firmly believe the public interest should be in the team and not the off-field staff.

“Sports clubs should be in the news for the excellence of their play, not for off-field matters. Therefore I have decided to leave at the end of May and will support the club as it makes preparations for its new managing director.

“I would like to thank my colleagues at Edinburgh and Scottish Rugby for their on-going support.”

Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby would like to extend their gratitude to David for his dedication and commitment over the past two years. The club has made considerable progress under his stewardship.

A recruitment process will now begin to fill the managing director role.

[djphilp]

By all accounts this is good news and will make many of the playing staff happy.

[gone south]

Player power works its magic. Good news.

[Edinburgh Shark]

What media speculation? I remember just one article, nothing more.

I'd say there's not enough media interest in the club for there to be speculation

[Wottie]

What media speculation? I remember just one article, nothing more.

I'd say there's not enough media interest in the club for there to be speculation

I agree. I can only remember seeing the coverage in the Scotsman of his appointment a couple of years ago and then the piece about how he had outraged the entire playing staff by getting rid of the well regarded team manager. If there is more, I'd be up for reading it as our friends at Google aren't aware of any either!

Not in a position to say whether this is good or bad. Club has made good progress in the time he had been here but unlike Docherty before him, no communication so we are all in the dark. Can only speculate but do wonder if all this is linked to the Solly contract situation?

[Justified Sinner]

Pretty damning piece in the Scottish Mail on Sunday by David Ferguson where he states that he'd informed the SRU of the intention to publish. That might have been the trigger and the press speculation referred the to by Davies.

[doedin]

The article in the MoS is pretty damning of both Davies and Dodson and indeed of the oversight of the SRU. It possibly explains a number of things from poor performances to the possible difficulties in signing/resigning some coaches and players. If correct then the way pro players have been treated has been disgraceful and very amateurish - the article describes the way the players wives were dismally treated before, during and after the Cup final i.e. transport WayneBarnes ups, not getting passes to the players lounges after the game, having to make their own way home after the game, etc. Indeed some of the players had to spend time sorting out their partners travel to London the night before the game! AlainRolland disgrace!Some of the AlainRolland up travel arrangements for players to and from games ‘organised’ by Davies were very poor and 20+ hour travel by coach etc is not what a pro player needs before/after a game!

I had only a little contact with both the Lindsays that were unceremoniously sacked by Davies but I always found them helpful, pleasant and got the job done. I would not be surprised if there was some form of tribunal or pay off in the offing, perhaps even their re-engagement? A true WayneBarnes up!

I suppose that I should not be surprised given the history of some of the management actions in ER and the SRU but this reeks of incompetence in the first order. Having the playing staff and coaches write to the SRU and complain about their boss then being pulled together and told to basically shut the AlainRolland up does not describe a happy, well run and well organised camp. If we lose some good players because of this AlainRolland up then someone i.e. Dodson has to take the blame and AlainRolland off too!

The MoS also suggests that there were dodgy circumstances in Davies appointment i.e. that Davies was parachuted into the process and was appointed in strange circumstances! Needs a thorough external audit methinks! Happy to offer my services!

There is also a decent article in the SoS about the possible demise of the 7s team by Iain Morrison. He lays out the arguments for and against and from what I read you have to think the SRU is bonkers to give up the 7s team. some interesting views on the growing and increasingly expensive coaching/management team we seem to have and that a 7s squad will add more value than yet another aussie/SH coach? I hand not appreciate that all the 7s travel and accommodation costs are covered by World Rugby plus we get a subsidy from them as well so that the majority of the 7s squad costs are covered - in other words sacking the Fat Bluffer and releasing his salary of £250k would probably cover the 7s costs! Sounds a good deal to me!

Lastly Morrison points out that Hugh Blake doesn’t yet know which Pro team he will be playing for next season. You honestly couldn’t make this up! The SRU really needs a big AlainRolland shake up, the management and organisation, which was already questionable is now becoming truly embarrassing. Hope to AlainRolland this doesn’t disrupt the RWC preparations, we have enough to worry about trying to get enough fit centres together!

[Wottie]

Thanks doedin. I was worried for a while this afternoon that I was actually going to have to go out and buy the Mail on Sunday. An action not at all to be taken lightly!

By the way, need to watch, you must be owe royalties to the league referees after that last post!!

[zt1903]

There is some rumour that John Davidson got his jotters as well.

[dolf_lundgren]

Agree with most points, there is a still a bit of an issue with the professionalism of ER at some points. I really think a move away from Murrayfield would help. In that I mean offices etc too, forces people to stand on their own two feet and take responsibility.

On Hugh Blake, not surprised he doesn't know where he is playing next year. If I were him I would be quite happy that I was being considered for either of them. I really haven't seen anything which suggests he is better than anyone else at GW or ER. After seeing him at Melrose the 7s may heva been his best option for a contract and obviousl ythat is up in the air.

[zt1903]

Agree with most points, there is a still a bit of an issue with the professionalism of ER at some points. I really think a move away from Murrayfield would help. In that I mean offices etc too, forces people to stand on their own two feet and take responsibility.

On Hugh Blake, not surprised he doesn't know where he is playing next year. If I were him I would be quite happy that I was being considered for either of them. I really haven't seen anything which suggests he is better than anyone else at GW or ER. After seeing him at Melrose the 7s may heva been his best option for a contract and obviousl ythat is up in the air.

According to The Times we're playing at Easter Road next season whilst Hearts play at Murrayfield.

[Frenchy]

Agree with most points, there is a still a bit of an issue with the professionalism of ER at some points. I really think a move away from Murrayfield would help. In that I mean offices etc too, forces people to stand on their own two feet and take responsibility.

On Hugh Blake, not surprised he doesn't know where he is playing next year. If I were him I would be quite happy that I was being considered for either of them. I really haven't seen anything which suggests he is better than anyone else at GW or ER. After seeing him at Melrose the 7s may heva been his best option for a contract and obviousl ythat is up in the air.

According to The Times we're playing at Easter Road next season whilst Hearts play at Murrayfield.

This doesn't immediately strike me as being a completely stupid idea. However, I don't quite see why sharing Easter Road with Hibs is preferable to sharing Murrayfield with Hearts - surely Murrayfield's pitch is better suited to hosting two teams?

Anyone able to post the article?

[Rico]

On Hugh Blake, not surprised he doesn't know where he is playing next year. If I were him I would be quite happy that I was being considered for either of them. I really haven't seen anything which suggests he is better than anyone else at GW or ER. After seeing him at Melrose the 7s may heva been his best option for a contract and obviousl ythat is up in the air.

Would probably be happy for him to stay in Glasgow to be honest - we're stocked to the gills with back rows for next season.

Even if Leonardi is away (which I don't think has been confirmed) we'll still have Denton, Du Preez (hopefully !), Coman, Manu, Watson, Grant, Ritchie and Bradbury. Even with Denton and Watson away on international duty and Manu possibly not arriving until November-ish, Blake might still struggle to get game time.

[dolf_lundgren]

I don't think it is the pitch which wil be the issue, football pitches are pretty firm and don't turn into mud baths as easily. The cash brought in by Hearts playing at Mfield will offset the cost of renting ER. The point I was making was separating the administration blocks, it is too easy to cross over too much and not have innovative ideas when you are next to each other.

Completely agree re Blake and out strength in the Back row, Glasgow however is much the same. Perhaps they will lose more of them for RWC however. I would rather we signed a back than another back row. There has to be someone leaving in the back row however to free up space for Manu as it already one of our strongest suits. Hopefully it is not Dentons injuries catching up. He may however be highly sought after in other leagues.

[doedin]

There is some rumour that John Davidson got his jotters as well.

Oh I hope so! That would free up £250k plus leave Stern to get on with his work with Wagga as part of his team.

Easter Road is too small for rugby is it not? Cant see us playing there if Murrayfield is available, even with the Jambos playing there, we spend all that AlainRolland money on a pitch for AlainRolland sake!

Anyone else get a feeling that there is a lot of turmoil behind closed doors in ER and SRU? Bit of a power struggle going on? Just hope it doesn’t stop us re-sigining existing and signing new players. Next year is make or break and we need a strong squad.